meridian circle


noun Astronomy.

a transit instrument provided with a graduated vertical scale, used to measure the declinations of heavenly bodies and to determine the time of meridian transits.

Origin of meridian circle

First recorded in 1540–50

Words nearby meridian circle

Example sentences from the Web for meridian circle

British Dictionary definitions for meridian circle

meridian circle

noun

an instrument used in astronomy for determining the declination and right ascension of stars. It consists of a telescope attached to a graduated circle